[Pyrroloquinoline quinone inhibited oxidative stress induced-apoptosis of Schwann cells via mitochondrial apoptotic signaling pathway in vitro].

Objective To investigate the mechanisms of Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) against oxidative stress induced apoptosis in Schwann cells (SCs). Methods SCs were cultured in vitro, identified by S-100 immunofluorence staining. SCs were divided into control group, H2O2 induced group, H2O2 + PQQ treated group. CCK-8 assay was used to detect cell proliferation. Apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry with Annecin V-FITC/PI staining, mitochondrial transmembrane potential was detected by flow cytometry with JC-1 labeled staining, cytochrome C (CytC), Bax and Caspase-9 protein levels was detected by Western blot analysis. Results In this study, the S-100 positive cells were more than 95%, cell proliferation was decreased in H2O2 induced SCs, apoptotic rate was increased, mitochondrial transmembrane potential was decreased, CytC, Bax and Caspase-9 protein levels were increased. After PQQ added, cell proliferation was increased, apoptotic rate decreased, mitochondrial transmembrane potential increased, CytC, Bax and Caspase-9 protein levels decreased. Conclusions PQQ protects SCs from oxidative induced apoptosis by inhibiting mitochondrial signaling pathway. Key words: Pyrroloquinoline quinone; Schwann cell; Oxidative stress; Apoptosis; Mitochondria